Rahul Gandhi Should Step Down As Leader Of INDIA Block: Senior Congress Leader Mani Shankar Aiyar

Senior Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again triggered a political storm, this time by publicly questioning Rahul Gandhi's leadership of the opposition's INDIA bloc and suggesting that he step aside for a regional leader.

Aiyar proposed that figures such as Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, M. K. Stalin, or Tejashwi Yadav could take over the reins of the alliance. He argued that regional leaders may be able to devote more focused time and attention to consolidating and strengthening the coalition, especially in light of Congress's recent electoral setbacks.

"We were so incapable that we kept Mamata Banerjee away, and this led to Congress being weakened," Aiyar said, urging Gandhi to allow another opposition face to lead the bloc if it strengthens unity and effectiveness.

However, Aiyar's remarks have drawn attention not only because of their political implications but also due to his history of controversial statements that have previously embarrassed the Congress party. In 2017, during the Gujarat Assembly election campaign, he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "neech" (low), a remark that sparked widespread backlash and forced the Congress leadership to distance itself from his comments. The episode was widely seen as a self-inflicted setback for the party during a critical electoral battle.

Earlier, in 2014, Aiyar had controversially suggested that Modi could sell tea at a Congress session - a comment that the BJP used to reinforce its narrative of elitism within the Congress. These statements were frequently cited by political opponents as examples of rhetoric that hurt the party's public image.

Reacting to Aiyar's latest comments, Congress leader Imran Masood firmly defended Rahul Gandhi, asserting that only he possesses the national stature and credibility to effectively lead the INDIA bloc and challenge the BJP.